Gas generator for internal combustion engines



ug- 14, 1934- w. J. CLOUD Er AL 1,970,166

GAS GENERATOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed May 5l, 1950 ,mx 2526: 27 f ATTORNEYS.

atenied ug. 14, 1934 pire TTES GAS GENERATOR .FOR ENTER/NAL .COlWBUS-THON ENGNES William J. Cloud and Ralph G.`Wilson, Spokane,

Wash.

Our invention relates to gas generators rior internal combustion enginesand more particularly to a gas generator that is adapted to replace theCarburettor of the internal combustion engine. Certain objects of theinvention are to provide a generator comprising a casing with aplurality or" concentric chambers therein having air, steam and gassupply pipes and adapted to be heated by the exhaust gases from themotor to which the device is attached and to then be conducted to theintake manifold of the motor. Further yobjects are to provide means forcontrollingthe supply of-g-as,4 steam and air that is thus fed to theintake manifold oi the motor.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of the novel construction,adaptation, combination and arrangement of y parts hereinafter describedand claimed. These 20 objects are accomplished by devices illustrated inthe accompanying drawing; wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the device installed on anengine within a fragmentary portion of a motor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View oi the same;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in longitudinal section of the air valve;

Fig. e is a View in central vertical section of the generator casingtaken substantially on a broken line 4.--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section of the same taken on a brokenline 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a View in vertical section taken on a broken line 6-6 of Fig.1.

Referring to the drawing throughout which like reference numeralsindicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates an engine head having theusual intake and exhaust manifolds 6 and 7 respectively. A generatorcasing 8 is connected 4.0 to said exhaust manifold at 9, and gasolene issupplied to said casing by a pipe 10 from a tank 11, while water isfurnished to said casing by a pipe 12 from a tank 13, and air is redthereto through a pipe 14.

rThe generator casing 8 is concentrically divided inte a centralgasolene chamber 15 and into which the gasolene is introduced by thepipe 10, and an annular steam chamber 16 surrounding said centralchamber and into which water is fed by means oi the pipe 12. rTheannular space between said water chamber and the outside generatorcasing is divided by a horizontal partition 17 into an upper air chamber18 into which air is introduced by the pipe 14, and into a lower heatingchamber 19 into which the hot gases enter from the exhaust manifold 7through its connection 9 therewith, all of which is shown most clearlyVin Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Referring particularly toFig. 5 of the drawing, 60 the 'not exhaustgases from the engine 5 enterinfr the heating chamber 19-through thepipe connection 9 pass around said chamber on both sides and outwardlythrough an exhaust pipe V20. In this passage of the hot gases thegasolene-fuel within the chamber 15fis-heated, the water within thechamber 16 is converted into steam,and the air within the chamber-itisalso heated.

lFor controlling the entryY of air into thechamber 18 the pipe 14 may beextended through the 70 dash Ll5 oi the vehicle 46 as shown in Fgpl andthere be provided with a valve such as shown in detail in Fig. 3. Saidvalve may comprise a male member 21 extending through said dash andhaving a flange which is held against the dash by a nut 22. Said malemember is hollow, as at 23, and is threadedly connected to the pipe 14while a screw 24 extends from within said hollow portion through itsflanged end and threadedly into a knob or female mem- 30 ber 25 thuspivotally connecting said male and female members. A spring 26 installedon said screw provides rictional tension whereby the knob member isretained in whatever pivotal position it may be placed when turned, andboth of said members are provided with conduits 27 which may be broughtinto partial or complete registration to admit air into the aforesaidchamber as desired. The water pipe 12 is provided with a valve 28 havinga rod 29 90 Y also extending through the vehicle dash where by the entryof water into the chamber 16 may be regulated as desired.

The heated air is conducted from the air chamber 18 by a pipe 30 and thesteam is con- 95 ducted from the chamber 16 by a pipe 31, while theheated gasolene is conveyed from the gasolene chamber 15 by means of apipe 32. Said last-named pipe is provided with a ball and spring checkvalve 33 that is operated 100 by the suction oi` the engine and whichprevents passage or leakage oi the gasolene when the engine is not inuse. Another valve 34 is provided for said pipe to regulate the passageof the heated gasolene and therefore the speed of the engine. Said valveis provided with a rod 35 which extends to a pivotal connectionwith oneend of -a short lever 36 whose other end is pivotedto a push rod 37extending slidably through the 11o ...or ci the vehicle and through aflcor plate 8 secured to said floor. Said plate has a bracket arm 39extending through said floor and to which the short lever is ulcrumed. Afoot plate .30, pivoted at 41 to the floor plate, is provided with aheei rest l2 and is connected to the aforesaid push rod. A spring 43 isnterposed on said push rod between said oor and foot plates and isadapted to normally retain aid foot plate in the raised position andlikewise retains the aforesaid valve 34 in a normally closed positionthrough its connecting means therewith. It will thus be seen thatpassage of the gasclene through the pipe 32 may be regulated as desiredby pressing the said foot plate.

It will, of course, be understood that the ow of gasolene, air and wateror steam through the device is caused by the suction or intakestroke ofthe engine or motor to which the device is connected. The three pipes30, 3l and 32 are all connected to a small manifold 44, shown in detailin Fig. 6, which serves as a mixing chamber for the air, gasolene andsteam. Said manifold is bolted or otherwise secured to the tail end ofthe engine intake manifold 6. Within the small manifold the steamresulting from the heated Water, the heated air, and the gas resultingfrom the heated gasoline all combine to form a gaseous vapor which isboth efficient and economical and which is taken into the engine throughits intake manifold. It will be observed that the valve 28 providesmeans for regulating the passage of water through the device, the valvearrangement shown in Fig. 3 controls the nu-y cf ad', and the valve 3-regulates the 'i age of gas.

When first starting the enging the valve 28 and the valve shown in Fig.3 are both closed while the valve 34 is open and as the engine warms upthe air and water are fed into the motor as desired by means of the tworstnamed valves. While it may be advisable to start the engine by theuse of gasolene as a fuel or at least to prime the engine with a lightfuel, after the engine becomes suiiciently heated other and heavierfuels, such as coal oil, and the like may be used. Gasolene hastherefore been used as a fuel in the description merely `as anillustration.

Having thus described our invention, it being understood that minorchanges may be resorted to in its construction and arrangement Withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, what We claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

A vaporizer for internal combustion engines comprising a casing having aplurality of concentric chambers therein, liquid fuel inlet means in thecentral chamber, water inlet means in the annular chamber surroundingthe central chamber, an air preheating chamber adjoining the said rstmentioned annular chamber, an annular heating chamber and means fordischarging and mixing the products from the three first mentionedchambers.

WILLIAIVI J. CLOUD. RALPH G. WILSON.

